Walter Nelson "Gator" Burns

BURNS, Walter Nelson “Gator” – Passed away peacefully at the Sault Area Hospital on Sunday, December 7, 2014 at the age of 69. Beloved father of Steven Burns (Corina) and Dawn Santoro (Tony). Cherished grandfather of Mitchell Burns, Morgan Burns, Victoria Drake, Brianna Grace, Victoria Burns, late Jesse Burns, Justin Moss, Roger Moss, Joseph Verville-Santoro and Devon Verville-Santoro. Great grandfather of Maci-Rae Drake, Tysen Burns and Larissa Burns. Son of the late Nelson and Luella Burns. Dear brother of Joe Burns (May), Ellen Paquin (Claude) and Judy Barton (Eric). Uncle of many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 from 6-9 pm. Memorial service to be held in the chapel on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 10:30 am. Rev. Phil Miller officiating. Interment Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. Expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.arthurfuneralhome.com

Eulogy: Delivered by Nephew-Bob Burns

I was very honored when Dawn and Steven asked if I would say a few words on behalf of all Uncle Walters neices and nephews. We were all pretty tight growing up. Our families did a lot together. Even with jobs, weddings, kids and basically with life in general, we have still managed to come full circle and be tight again. Sometimes we become so consumed with our individual lives that we forget to make the tme to be a family again...cousins again. So, for me, the silver linig in any funeral is that it has the ability to remind us of the importance of this.

I am not sure how best to describe Uncle Walter. He was like an older cousin. You know, the one that encourages the others to be a little devious. Like when we used to camp at Bells Point. Every morning he would be the one to remind us to go check out those recently vacated sites for empties. A nickel a bottle was a lot back then. Or better yet, find some left over firewood before anyone else got it...that was gold!!

When he was being a little devious, he always whispered the instructions to us. It did not matter if anyone was around or not, he would whisper his suggestions. Come to think of it, he did that often, even in recent years. No matter what he was saying, it was like everytime he spoke to one of us he was sharing some deep secret, We could be at any family function in the past year and he would be like...BOBBY...come here...so, I went to Canadian Tire the other day...DRILL BITS...$4.95. Did not matter what the topic, with his neices and nephews it was almost always a subdued one-on-one conversation...which was kinda odd because he had such an intimidating presence. But it was cool too. It was as though we were the center of his universe until the conversation was over, You do not really see that much today.

There were the trips to visit Great Gramma Burns and Uncles Dave and Jim. Always good for a memory or two. Personally, i remember the countless Saturday nights at our house with him and his family watching Hockey Night In Canada and watching the adults play cribbage.

It was watching those hockey games when Uncle Walter was at his most colourful...sharing his rants about Howie Meeker. Which brings me to his ability to perfect the BS story. Much like Grampa, he was a master at the BS story. I think he just wanted to see how outrageous a story he could come up with before any of his neices or nephews clued in.

We each have fond memories of ourUncle Walter. I want to share my favourite. It was on Sept 24, 1994. The day Susie and I were married.

Like most weddings we had a lot of help. Everything from the stag, shower, hall decorating, photography, church duties, bartending, everything ...period. A day or two before the wedding it occurred to Susie and I that we had made no transportation arrangements for ourselves fom the Croation Hall to the Hotel, The Windsor Park on our wedding night. We knew we wouldnt be able to drive, a cab was not an option and we did not want to tell either Father that they were cut off after dinner...then, i remembered that Uncle Walter didnt drink. So, we asked him if later that night he would drive us to the Windsor Park.

His eyes lit up and in that loud booming voice he said "SURE, I'D LOVE TO"! Wow, nice enthusiasm. We were just looing for a ride, but he made it more. At some point that night he took it upon imself to load the car for us during the reception. Along the way he was full of congratulations and how great a day it had been. He even carried the bags into the hotel and made sure we were good to go. He just seemed to be so happy and proud of the fact that we asked HIM to do this...it was infectious. He gave us the perfect ending to our reception...pure happiness. i'll never forget that.

Losing Uncle Walter, I think, has been a different kind of grief for all of the grandchildren and cousins. Sadly, at our age, we're accustomed to losing Grandparents. We're older now and undestand life and death and are better prepared to deal with it. Losing Gram a few years ago was an immediate outburst of emotion. Uncle Walter, on the other hand, has been a subdued shock. It has reminded us of our own mortality and especially that of our own parent's. Of the 9 of us cousins, you, Dawn and Steven, are the first to have to experience this. It's sobering for the rest of us and we can't imagine what you are going through right now. Just remember this though...Me, Cathy, David, Derek, Jeremy, Ashley and Aimee, we're there for yah...we're your cousins ...and we will always be there for yah.

Rest in peace Uncle Walter, you deserve it...make sure you say 'hi' to Gramma and Grampa for us.

Eulogy: Delivered by Sister-Judy Barton

For those who don’t know me, I am Walter’s youngest sister, Judy, also known as ‘the baby’. Walter was the oldest of four, followed by Joe, Ellen and myself.

The best way to describe Walter, would be to say that he was quite a character, known for his teasing ways, silly jokes, love of yard sales, talking on the phone and showing up for coffee at 7 on Saturday mornings.

Walter had specific ways of doing things and was most certain that ‘you’ would want to do it his way as well. Every spring he would call me to make sure I remembered to put more loam on our parents grave before I planted the flowers. I am sure when he went to inspect my handy work later, he would comment that ‘she never listens, this looks like she threw a bag of potting soil on it’…he would be right of course, that’s exactly what I did.

As a teenager, Walter was famous for coming home Friday night after work, packing a bag and maybe, if our mom was lucky, he might leave a note saying something like: “Gone for the weekend, see you Sunday.” Then he would hit the highway…hitch hiking…to see a girl…somewhere…THAT was Walter.

He was also that teenager who would say yes when his mother asked him to take his bratty 8 year old baby sister, who hated needles, for her needle. This could never end well for Walter. I could be counted on to embarrass him with my antics… as I said, I don’t like needles.

My last moments with Walter were on Friday morning, Dec 5. Claude and I drove him to the hospital and even though he was in considerable pain, Walter took his duty as older brother seriously and used the time to explain to me the proper usage of a signal light.

Corina, Walter’s daughter-in-law, told us yesterday that she loved Walter as soon as she met him, and within hours felt like she had known him forever. Walter has provided us with endless stories and memories. We will see him every time we see or hear Steven, who is just a younger version of his dad, Dawn, who is in so many ways her fathers daughter and in his grandkids, with their wonderful memories of their Papa and G-pa.

Joe, Ellen and I will always be grateful to Walter for hiding Ma’s leather strap all those years ago when we were kids. For all that siblings have their disagreements, there is a bond between us that is unique and special; and the feelings of sorrow and grief are greater and more intense for it. We will hold tight to our memories: music and parties with mom and dad, family trips every summer, especially the ones to Sudbury, packed in a Volkswagen Bug with Mom, Dad, 4 kids, and sometimes our cousin Gary or Gramma Conway.

Walter, your book will never be closed. Joe and May, Ellen and Claude, Eric and I, Steven and Corina, Dawn and Tony and our families will miss you and always remember you with respect and love.

Dawn has corrected us frequently when we use the word goodbye. I would like to share two quotes that I think soften the goodbye.

The first, by AA Milne, from Winnie the Pooh

If ever there is tomorrow when we are not together, there is something you must remember,

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

But the most important thing is, even if we are apart, I will always be with you.

(AA Milne, from Winnie the Pooh)

The second, my coworker shared on Facebook this week. It is by American author Richard Bach and seems the perfect closing:

Don’t be dismayed by goodbyes,

A farewell is necessary before you can meet again.

And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain

For those who are friends.